Support structure



Feb. 11, 1964 o. P. CIOFANI ETAL SUPPORT STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 16, 1962 Inventors Ovid RCiofani Joseph I Gcggliardo J32, ffxzfim Nm avkfiiz/bwl :FHtorne 15,8

SUPPORT STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 16, 1962 7 m my mww l H r w E M" 5 6m l f 0 t 08 u. in 6 n-Iua 2 6 v8 W m nd T. b N VP oww fi L. m I

'ITIIIIIWIm-IIIIIIII-I V m h un Feb. 11, 1964 o. P. CIOFANI ETAL 0,

SUPPORT STRUCTURE Filed April 16, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventors Ovid P. Ciofarzi Joseph J. Gagliardo' 15 #M,Nogm& fim

fl'ttornegfi United States Patent Ofilice 3,120,865 Patented Feb. 11, 1964 3,12tl,865 SUPPORT STRUCTURE Uvid P. (Ilofaui, 6624 N. Harlem Ave, and Ioseph J. Gagliardo, M7 W. Windsor, both of Chicago, Ill. Filed Apr. 16, 1962, Ser. No. 187,901 9 Claims. (Cl. rte-1s The present invention relates generally to a readily portable collapsible support structure and more particularly to a portable collapsible support structure of the type used for supporting a screen on which home motion pictures and photographic slide images are projected.

Readily portable and collapsible structures which are adapted to support signs, curtains, screens and various types of articles which are in widespread use in the advertising and in the entertainment fields. One of the most extensive uses for portable collapsible support structures is in the field of motion pictures and photographic slide screens. All of the presently available projection screen support structures, however, are relatively heavy and bulky, are diihcult to manipulate from the completely collapsed storing position to the erected useable position and are therefore not well suitable for easy transport from one location to another or for conveniently storing in a relatively small space.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a readily portable collapsible support structure which is adapted for easy transport from one location to another and which can be conveniently stored safely in a relatively small space.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved support structure which is a completely self contained unit requiring no assembly of disconnected parts to manipulate from the completely collapsed stored position to a useable position nor the disconnection of parts to transform from the useable position to the storeable position.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible support structure which is useable in several positions of adjustment.

It is a still further specific object of the present invention to provide an improved portable projection screen for use with home motion picture and slide projectors.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved portable projection screen which can be manipulated from a completely collapsible storeable position to the useable position more rapidly and conveniently than heretofore possible.

Other objects of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from be following detailed description and claims to follow when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of the support structure of the present invention shown in completely collapsed storeable position,

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a perspective of the present invention shown a partially open position,

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational View of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 3,

FIGURE 5 is a rear elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 3,

FIGURE 6 is a front elevational view partially broken away of the embodiment of the invention shown in HS- URE 3 with a portion thereof removed,

FlGURE '7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 77 of FIGURE 6,

FIGURE 8 is an exploded fragmentary elevational view partially in vertical section showing a detail of the structure shown in FEGURF 3,

view of the embodiment FIGURES 1 and 2 in FIGURE 9 is an exploded fragmentary sectional view illustrating the relationship of certain elements shown in FIGURE 3,

FIGURE 10 illustrates fragmentary side and front elevational views of a detail of the structure shown in FIG- URE 3,

FIGURE 11 is a front elevational view of the structure of FlGURE 6 in a normal operative position of adjustment,

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary front elevational View partially broken away showing a modified form of the present invention,

FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of a further modified form of the present invention, and

FIGURE 14 is a perspective view of a still further moditied form or" the present invention.

AS illustrated in the accompanying drawing, the foregoing objects of the present invention are achieved by pivotally mounting on a generally rectangular base enclosure section a supporting bracket assembly which in turn has integrally mounted thereon a plurality of collapsible supporting arm members adapted to extend radially outwardly from said bracket member and serve as support means for an article, such as a motion picture projection screen, and an important feature of the present invention is in having all of the elements of the support structure operatively connected to related elements thereof when the str cture is in both a completely open and a completely collapsed or storeable position. More particularly, it will be evident from the drawing that the base section of the herein disclosed support structure serves both as a means for directly supporting a bracket assembly the article secured thereto when in an open or use- .ble pos tron and also as a storage compartment for the said bracket assembly when in a closed or storeable position without requiring the assembly or disconnection of any of the elements of the support structure and base section in order to effect either of the foregoing relationships. Thus, with the structure of the present invention there is no necessity of connecting one part to another in order to manipulate the structure from the storeable position to the useable position, nor is it necessary to disconnect any of the elements in order to store the said support structure. A further advantage of the disclosed support structure which will be described in detail hereinafter is in also having each of the principal elements of the present invention which are normally securely connected to form a unitary structure capable of being readily detachable from its related element to permit the support structure being used under almost any operating conditions which may be encountered.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the sup port structure shown in FIGURES 1-11 of the drawing is comprised of a base section 10 which is pivotally and detachably secured to a cover section 11 by hinge means 12, 12' which are preferably of the detachable bayonettype. The base section it has a bracket assembly 14 pivotally and preferably detachably mounted on a lower edge portion thereof by hinge means 15, 15'. A foldable brace means it: connects the base section it and bracket assembly in to hold the bracket assembly 14 in an upright or perpendicular position with respect to the base section 19. The brace means 16 in the form best illustrated in FIGURES 2, 3 and 8 is comprised of arms 37', 1S pivotal-1y connected in overlapping interengaging relationship with one end of arm 17 pivotally and detachably connected to the bracket assembly 14 by a fastener means 19 and one end of arm 13 pivotally and detachably connected to the base section 12 by a similar fastener means 19'. When in the storable or closed position the brace member 16 is moved from its off center locking position (best sown in FIGURE 3) to the overlapping closed position (best shown in FIGURE 2). It will be understood, of course, that any other suitable means for holding the bracket assembly 14 in an upright position or other desired position can be employed.

The base section and cover section 11 are preferably provided with a latch means and shock absorbing support means 26. Also, the base section It has attached thereto a carrying handle 27 and securing means 28 for holding the bracket assembly 14 fixedly with respect to the base section 19 when the bracket assembly is moved to storable position. It will be evident from FIGURE 2 that the base section 10 and cover section 11 together with the bracket section 14 form an integral readily portable compact unit providing complete protection for the support structure in the closed or storable position and which can be readily transformed into a useable position, as will be described in detail hereinafter. The bracket assembly 14 is comprised of a backing section 30 which is pivotally secured to the base section 1%) by hinge means 15, 15' which are preferably of the detachable bayonet-type. The backing section 3% conforms generally to the configuration of the base section 10 and cover section 11 and is slightly smaller in size to facilitate enclosing therebetween. A front section 31 is secured to backing section Sit in spaced relationship therewith except at the point of attachment thereto at a lower edge portion, as illustrated at 32 (see FIGURES 2 and 3). Disposed between the backing section 30 and the front section 31 medially and spaced slightly inwardly from the lower edge thereof is an adapter or support means 35 (see FIGURE 6) which can be a die cast part or formed of sheet metal which is preferably provided with at least two threaded openings formed to receive one end of one of the extendible assemblies 36, 36. The adapter 35 can, of course, have means other than threads for retaining therein the end of an extendible assembly 36, 36'. Tubular guide members 37, 37 are preferably mounted between the backing section 30 and the front section 31 at a point spaced from the adapter 35 and preferably adjacent the upper edge of the front section 31 for engaging an extendible assembly 36, 36' respectively. The guide members 37, 3'7 serve primarily as guides for maintaining and supporting the extendible assemblies 36, 36 in a predetermined angular position, although other retaining and guide means can be used. The guide members 37, 37' also serve to support the section 30, 31 in spaced relationship. At least two addi tional adapters 38, 38 are mounted on opposite sides of the adapter 35 between the backing section 39 and the front section 31 adjacent the lower edge thereof. Each of the adapters 38, 38' is provided with an open ing for retaining therein the end of one of a second pair of extendible assemblies 451, 40' respectively. The extendible assemblies 40, 46' are generally similar in form to the extendible assemblies 36, 36, but preferably are of slightly smaller dimension, since their extended length need not be so great.

The adapters 38, 38 in the form illustrated in FIG- URE 2 are preferably pivotally mounted on pins 39, 39' to permit moving the extendible assemblies 49, 4-0 from a generally upwardly extending position to a substantially horizontal extending position as illustrated diagrammatically in FIGURES 4 and 6 of the drawing. Spring latch means 45, are preferably mounted on the front section 31 adjacent the lower edge thereof and are formed of a resilient arm member 46, 46 having a lug 48, 48 respectively, normally extending inwardly through openings in front section 31 and engage the extendible assemblies 4t 40' respectively when the latter are moved into a horizontal position and lock the assemblies 49, 46' in a horizontal position. When it is desired to move the assemblies 40, 4-6 into an upwardly extending posi tion the resilient arms 46, 46 respectively are retracted to disengage lugs 48, 48 from the assemblies ill, 40'

respeetively. If the front section 31 is not included in the bracket assembly 14, however, the latch means 45, 45' can be mounted on the backing section 30.

The extendible assemblies 36, 36 and 40, 40' are formed preferably of a plurality of relatively rigid tubular sections of gradually decreasing diameter with the smaller tubular sections adapted to being telescopically nested Within the next larger diameter tubular sections and capable of being extended outwardly to form an elongated relatively rigid supporting arm members, as best shown in FIGURE 11. The extendible assemblies 36, 36' in the form of the invention illustrated in FIG- URES 1-11 are fixedly disposed to form an angle approximately 60 with the base section 19 and have a slightly greater length than the extendible assemblies 40, 40. The ends of the assemblies 36, 36' and 4t), 40 are adapted to be disposed at the corners of a rectangular section, which in the form illustrated comprises a square section when fully extended. It will be understood, however, that by selecting the number and length of the telescoping sections in the respective extendible assemblies, it is possible to form a support for other desired rectangular forms. The extendible members 36, 36' and 40, 46' are normally retained in the adapters 35 and 33 respectively, but can be removed, if desired, for repair, for replacement by sections having a different length, prolonged storage, or the like. It will be understood, of course, that the extendible assemblies 36, 36' and 40, 40' can be formed of interengaging sections which are not tubular in form and can be made up of angular or solid bar sections, as desired.

In order to support a rectangular article, such as a motion picture screen, the ends of each of the extendible assemblies 36, 36 and 40, 40' are provided with a securing means for detachably engaging a grommet or other mounting means provided at the corners or edges of the article to be supported. A preferred form of securing means shown in FIGURE 10 comprises an eyelet type stud fastener 56 which is mounted on the end of each of the tubular assemblies. The fastener 50 is preferably spring loaded so that pressure on the button 51 retracts the projection 52 to facilitate withdrawal therefrom of a grommet 60 on the screen A. Other means such as hook and eye fasteners, can be used to mount a screen or the like article on the support structure.

In operating the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURES l-11, the support structure is opened from the position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 and the base section :11) and the cover section 1 1 are placed in engagement with a plane supporting surface, such as a table top. The bracket assembly 14 is then moved from the horizontal plane of the base section 10 into a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the base section Iii, as best shown in FIGURE 3. If the supporting surface is of limited size, the cover section 11 can be detached from the base section It by sliding the assembly laterally to separate the bayonet-type hinge sections 12, 12 and provide a unit as shown in FIGURE 6. With the support structure in the position of adjustment shown in FIGURES 3 or 6 having the backing section 30 in substantially a vertical position, it is possible to use the rear surface of the backing section 30 which is preferably provided with a light reflective coating 60 or equivalent reflective surface as a small projection screen surface for desk or table top use. When it is desired to have a large projection surface, as will normally be the case, the extendible assemblies 40, 40' are moved from the upwardly extending storing position shown in FIGURES 3 and 6 into a horizontal position shown in FIGURE 11 and the assemblies 4t it) are locked in the horizontal position by the latch means 45, 45 respectively. The ends of the extendible assemblies 44), 46' are then moved outwardly to a substantially fully extended position or to any length required. The extendible assemblies 36, 36' are also extended as required to provide together with the assemblies 4%, 44) a plurality of radially extending supporting arm members with the ends of each of said arms disposed at a corner of a rectangular area, as shown in FIGURE 11 of the drawing. If required, additional extendible assemblies can be mounted on the bracket assembly 14 in the above described manner so that the ends thereof are disposed along an edge portion of the rectangular area.

The supporting arm members formed by the extendible assemblies 36, 36 and 4t 40' in their extended position shown in FIGURE 11 are particularly adapted to support in a stretched form a flexible screen A of the type described in co-pending application Serial No. 126,326, filed July 24, 1961, or any other flexible reflective surface or the like article. The flexible screen or any other article having a grommet or hook means secured to each corner thereof can be readily mounted over the stud fastener 50 provided at the end of each of the supporting arm members. When not in use the screen A can be folded and stored between the base section and the backing section 30.

If it is desired to use the support structure as a projection screen without the base section 1% and cover section 11, the bracket assembly 14 can be readily detached from the base section it To remove the bracket assembly 14, the brace 16 if first detached from the backing section 39 and the base section 16 by removing the resilient snap fastener heads 21, 21 formed at the ends of the sections 17, 18 respectively, from the resilient sockets 22, 22 formed on the means 19, 19 respectively. The bracket assembly 14 is then removed from the base section 10 by sliding the bracket assembly 14 laterally to disengage the bayonet-type hinge means 15, which normally secures the bracket assembly 14 to the base section M A passage 65 is provided medially of and adjacent the lower edge of the backing section 39 to facilirate suspending the assembly 14. If desired, the bracket assembly 14 in the extended position can be positioned directly on a fioor or other supporting surface.

In order to enable the support structure of the present invention to be used for supporting articles showing a configuration other than the particular rectangular forms which are defined by the ends of the extendible assemblies 36, 36 and 4d, 4% with the assemblies 4t}, 40" mounted in a fixed angular position, the structure can be modified as shown in FEGURE 12 wherein the extendible assemblies 6d, 66 are mounted in individual adapters 67, 67 which are pivotally mounted on the backing section 68. Extendible arm locking bars e9, 69' are mounted on the backing section 68 for engaging the extendible assemblies 66, 65 respectively. Each of the locking bars 69, 69' preferably has a plurality of recesses therein for releasably holding the extendible assembly with which it coacts in a fixed angailar position. Any other locking means, however, can be used for holding the extendible assemblies in the desired angular position.

In the modified form of the invention shown in H6- URE 13, the bracket assembly 74 is pivotally secured to a cover section '75 of a motion picture projection case 79 by means of a pair of pivotal fasteners 8d, 8% X and is held in an elevated or open position by means of a pivotal brace member 81. The bracket assembly 74 can be locked in its raised position by a latch means 82. When the bracket assembly is pivotally moved downwardly, it can be held in the cover section 75 by a fastener means 83. When the bracket assembly 74 is in its collapsed position, it is adapted to be contained completely within the cover section 75 of the case 70.

In a further modified form of the invention shown in FIGURE 14, the bracket assembly as forms the cover of the portable support unit as well as the support for several extendible assemblies 91 mounted thereon which have a structure similar to the extendible assemblies 36-, 35 and 4%), as. The bracket assembly 96 also has the same general structural arrangement as bracket assembly 14 except that bracket assembly 9% is preferably secured to the base section 92 by external hinge means 93 and is held in a substantially vertical position by a fastener means 94 which does not extend into the plane of an article suspended on the bracket assembly 99..

We claim:

1. A unitary article support structure comprising, a base section for supporting a bracket assembly, a bracket assembly of smaller diameter than said base section pivotally secured to said base section at a lateral edge portion thereof, said bracket assembly adapted to being pivotally moved from the horizontal plane of said base section and having means secured to said base section for maintaining said assembly in a plane substantially perpendicular to the horizontal plane of said base section while remaining pivotally secured to said base section, said bracket assembly having secured thereto adjacent one edge portion and intermediate the opposite ends thereof a plurality of support means for retaining associated therewith a plurality of supporting arm members, a supporting arm member associated with each of said support means with said arm members adapted to extend generally radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis of said assembly, and said arm members adapted to support an article thereon therebetween.

2. An article support structure defined in claim 1, wherein said base section has protective upstanding Wall members and each said supporting arm member is comprised of interengaging extendible sections forming a collapsible and extendible supporting arm and normally having one end thereof secured by one said support means with the other end thereof when in a collapsed position disposed entirely within the periphery of said bracket assembly; whereby said bracket assembly and arm members in collapsed position can be protectively mounted between said protective wall members of said base section without disengaging said bracket assembly from said base section.

3. An article support structure defined in claim 2 wherein each of said supporting arm members is comprised of interengaging telescoping sections of rigid tubmg.

4. An article support structure defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said support means is mounted on said bracket assembly to maintain a supporting arm member secured thereto in predetermined angular position and another of said support means is pivotally mounted on said bracket assembly whereby a supporting arm member secured thereto is pivotally moveable from an angular position contiguous with said first mentioned arm member to a position spaced laterally therefrom, and latch means mounted on said bracket assembly engageable with said pivotally mounted arm member for holding said pivotally mounted arm member in the laterally spaced position.

5. An article support structure defined in claim 4, wherein at least two of said support means are mounted to permit pivotal movement of said two supporting arm members associated therewit and each said supporting arm member having locking means spaced from said support means associated therewith for retaining each of said arm members in a predetermined position.

6. An article support structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said bracket assembly is detachably pivotally secured to said base section by hinge means mounted therein adjacent an edge portion thereof and said bracket assembly has a detachable brace member secured thereto at a point spaced from said hinge means and adapted to maintain said bracket assembly in a predetermined position with respect to said base section, and said brace member having snap fastener elements mounted at opposite ends thereof to facilitate detachably connecting with said bracket assembly and said base section.

7. An article support structure as defined .in claim 1, wherein said base section has pivotally secured thereto a detachable cover section which together with said base section is adapted to completely enclose said bracket assembly; whereby there is provided a unitary protective enclosure for said bracket assembly.

8. In a collapsible support structure, the improvement comprising; a backing section forming a base of a supporting bracket assembly, a plurality of support means mounted on said backing section adjacent one lateral edge portion thereof and intermediate the ends thereof for retaining supporting arm members, at least one of said support means being mounted on said bracket assembly adapted to maintain at least two said supporting arm members secured thereto in a generally upwardly extending position, at least two other of said support means being pivotally mounted on said backing section for pivotally securing at least two said supporting arm members to enable pivotally moving said arm member from a generally upwardly extending position to a position spaced laterally from said first mentioned arm member, extendible arm members mounted in said support means which in retracted position are disposed entirely within the periphery of said backing section and latch means supported by said backing section engageable with said pivotally mounted arm member for retaining said pivotally mounted arm member in said laterally spaced position.

9. A collapsible support structure as defined in claim 8, wherein the support means adapted to maintain the first mentioned said supporting arm member in a generally upwardly extending position has operatively associated therewith a locking means for holding said arm member in a plurality of fixed upwardly extending posi tions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Allen July 20, 1915 1,776,342 Weinland Sept. 23, 1930 1,830,282 Lorch Nov. 3, 1931 1 1,837,637 Walberg 2. Dec. 22, 1931 1,868,323 Ebeling May 24, 1932 1,946,644 Spica Feb. 13, 1934 2,126,513 Sterrett 2. Aug. 9, 1938 2,527,816 Herlache Oct. 31, 1950 3,002,557 Roth et a1 Oct. 3, 1961 

1. A UNITARY ARTICLE SUPPORT STRUCTURE COMPRISING, A BASE SECTION FOR SUPPORTING A BRACKET ASSEMBLY, A BRACKET ASSEMBLY OF SMALLER DIAMETER THAN SAID BASE SECTION PIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAID BASE SECTION AT A LATERAL EDGE PORTION THEREOF, SAID BRACKET ASSEMBLY ADAPTED TO BEING PIVOTALLY MOVED FROM THE HORIZONTAL PLANE OF SAID BASE SECTION AND HAVING MEANS SECURED TO SAID BASE SECTION FOR MAINTAINING SAID ASSEMBLY IN A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE HORIZONTAL PLANE OF SAID BASE SECTION WHILE REMAINING PIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAID BASE SECTION, SAID BRACKET ASSEMBLY HAVING SECURED THERETO ADJACENT ONE EDGE PORTION AND INTERMEDIATE THE OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF A PLURALITY OF SUPPORT MEANS FOR RETAINING ASSOCIATED THEREWITH A PLURALITY OF SUPPORTING ARM MEMBERS, A SUPPORTING ARM MEMBER ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS WITH SAID ARM MEMBERS ADAPTED TO EXTEND GENERALLY RADIALLY OUTWARDLY FROM THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID ASSEMBLY, AND SAID ARM MEMBERS ADAPTED TO SUPPORT AN ARTICLE THEREON THEREBETWEEN. 